Around The Web With Amby

Great stuff to ponder on your next run. A wrap up of this week’s articles on exercise science as tweeted by Amby Burfoot, Editor at Large of Runner’s World Magazine.
You can follow Amby’s tweets at http://twitter.com/exerscience and his Runner’s World blogs at http://peakperformance.runnersworld.com and http://footloose.runnersworld.com.

“Physical activity during pregnancy might be successful in restricting gestational weight gain,” sometimes a problem. http://bit.ly/fMRQNo

Mortality data from huge Nurses study. The good stuff: exercise, nuts, polyunsat fats, cereal fiber, modest alcohol. http://bit.ly/fHODFe

Rat study, but “early-life exercise” improves brain function later in life. http://bit.ly/dSQszX

Exercise fights depression through same neural pathway as SSRIs (Prozac). Likely to be successful in same groups. http://bit.ly/cBesp5

Deadly duo: Kids who spend more time in front of screens also eat more fat and get less vigorous exercise. http://bit.ly/fpJRJg

Oops, kids playing sports like soccer, baseball, don’t get as much exercise as they should. http://usat.ly/hAESpw

Long index finger linked to lower prostate cancer risk. http://bit.ly/eW8jS1 But, too bad, also less sports success. http://bit.ly/fW0VXb

Important to outdoor athletes: Sunscreen cuts melanoma risk. http://yhoo.it/i4EJ7q. Also aspirin lowers cancer risks. http://bit.ly/i7Ahsb

POSE pedaling technique on bike has no effect on efficiency. But POSE “bicycle setup” does. http://bit.ly/h47BwB

An investigation into the “the associated health and well-being benefits that result” from distance running. http://bit.ly/eUrIiF

Nuts, legumes, berries, fish lower risk of metabolic syndrome. Sausage increases risk. But high fitness removes links. http://bit.ly/igJ6qs

Caffeine boots endurance performance in heat, as well as in cool conditions. http://bit.ly/ffAp2j

“Gold standard” study find no advantage of B vits or Omega-3s among heart patients trying to avoid a major event. http://bit.ly/hso4Km

Review of mortality data on 1.46 million white adults followed 10 yrs finds even modest overweight increases deaths. http://bit.ly/fj2QQX

Not sure what this means, but light emitting diode therapy “has better potential” than cold water 4 exercise recovery. http://bit.ly/gTB52q

Consensus paper on role of essential fatty acids in human nutrition, including children. Good for eyes to heart. http://bit.ly/dQXsip

Unexpected science: Animals getting fatter too. Obesity highly complex. Abstract, http://bit.ly/fQRI5p; Comment, http://bit.ly/g9wMlP

Live-high, train-low works, but “accelerated erythropoiesis is not the sole mechanism” to explain the outcome. http://bit.ly/gtOJRf

In rats, Vitamin E and other antioxidants appear to reduce muscle mitochondrial biogenesis post-exercise. http://bit.ly/hiTsBP

In Italian study of 47,000 for nearly 8 yrs, high carb, high glycemic diet increases heart risks for women, not men. http://bit.ly/d8TW1e

USAToday reports that gerontologists say exercise is crucial for healthy, active life >65. More important than genes. http://usat.ly/9GfyyX

RT@SweatScience great review of maximal carb absorption during exercise. Asker Jeukendrup. Fructose + glucose. http://bit.ly/dtvWg5

Shoes less efficient than barefoot running (when you’re in water.) Same in air? Probably yes. But much smaller effect. http://bit.ly/aog5sP

Benno Nigg always interesting. Here he finds “unstable sandals” improve golfers’ back pain w/o hurting performance. http://bit.ly/9B2Q41

Post-marathon study reveals: 86.7% normal sodium; 12.9% high sod (dehydrated); .4% hyponatremia. No symptoms anywhere. http://bit.ly/drliBK

Doh. It’s harder to win age group awards at the end of your 5 yr group than at the beginning. http://bit.ly/9nF8OG

Do you believe socks have a big effect on shock absorption while walking and running? I doubt it; and you’re right. http://bit.ly/bKpu85

NYTimes “Really?” column concludes water drinking before meals modestly helpful for wt. loss, especially among seniors. http://nyti.ms/awHbuy

Exercise has differential effect on depression symptoms according to genetic makeup. http://bit.ly/cBesp5

Only 6% of us get enough veggies. USDA spends 10% of subsidies on fruit/vegs, 55% on meat. From Marion Nestle blog. http://bit.ly/diEpCz

Tim Noakes’ latest: In 9-mile march, soldiers lose 2 percent of mass without any loss of total body water. http://bit.ly/cPXlWm

Lower body compression garments don’t diminish run performance in heat. http://bit.ly/96ipzm

In U.S. low income families often are fatter (cheap, fast-food effect). In Sudan, the opposite. Among 10-18 yr olds. http://bit.ly/bWBOkg

Extensive exercise of marathoners and cyclists over 60 “might be beneficial for maintaining cognitive function.” http://bit.ly/bgTsQR